The South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame held an induction ceremony Monday for nine South Carolina law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Six of the officers lost their lives serving in 2018 while three were from decades ago, discovered last year through research.
The Hall of Fame is part of the state Department of Public Safety and was established by a legislative act in 1974. By that act, its purpose was defined “as a memorial to law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty and in recognition of the selfless dedication of all law enforcement officers in the day-to-day performance of their duties.”
“Last year was a difficult time in our state when we said goodbye to six officers,” said SCDPS Director Leroy Smith. “This ceremony recognizes that – regardless of the number of years that have passed – these officers hold a special place in our hearts and in our history.
Two officers honored - Florence Police Sgt. Terrence Carraway and Florence county Inv. Farrah Turner - were both gunned down Oct. 3, 2018, during an ambush in Florence. Carraway died at the scene, while Turner died three weeks later.
Florence Police Chief Allen Heidler called the two "peacemakers," according to WPDE-TV, and he read from the book of Matthew.
"Peacemaking is very rarely ever nice," Heidler said. "In fact, a South Carolina Baptist minister once wrote, peacemaking is messy and wrenching work. It takes time and a lot of emotional energy. He said it’s like crossing a river on slippery rocks. The journey is needed. The work is risky. And sometimes you fall, sometimes you get bruised and sometimes you don’t make it across the river."
"On Oct. 3, 2018, officers and deputies of the Florence Police Department and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the South Carolina Highway Patrol were thrust into the throws of a raging river. An ambush attack," Heidler continued. "Two of our bravest, Florence Police Sgt. Terrence Carraway and Florence County Sheriff’s Deputy Farrah Turner, didn’t make it across the river that day."
"As peacemakers, but more importantly as Christians, they understood the risk of their job," Heidler said. "And they entered that raging river knowing full well that by the words of Matthew 5:9, they were blessed by the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. They also knew, that if they didn’t make it to cross that river that day, the next words they (would) hear (would) be well done, my good and faithful servant. Welcome into the house of the Lord."
Others honored on Monday included Abbeville Police Department Officer H. Bascomb Cannon, whose end of watch was Nov. 10, 1921; Laurens Police /department Officer Hosea O. Martin, whose end of watch was Dec. 14, 1921; Duncan Police Department Officer Charlie Smith, whose end of watch was June 23, 1939; York County Sheriff's Office Detective Michael R. Doty, whose end of watch was Jan. 17, 2018; Saluda County Sheriff's Office Cpl. Dale S. Hallman, whose end of watch was April 6, 2018; Lancaster County Sheriff's Office Master Dep. James L. Kirk Jr., whose end of watch was April 24, 2018; and Richland County Sheriff's Office Dep. Jerry L. Hurd Jr., whose end of watch was Nov. 8, 2018.
